2009 TOYOTA 4RUNNER — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
33
Owner Complaints
6
Recalls
3
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2009 TOYOTA 4RUNNER
The 2009 TOYOTA 4RUNNER has received a total of 33 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 7 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER, SEATS. 3 technical service bulletins have been issued by Toyota Motor Corporation for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Power Trainautomatic Transmission (7 complaints), Electrical System (4 complaints), and Power Train (3 complaints).
Recalls for the 2009 TOYOTA 4RUNNER
NHTSA has recorded 7 recalls for the 2009 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, potentially affecting up to 1,805,531 vehicles.
Recall 16V396000 — SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
| 7,749 vehicles affected
Defect: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element....
Consequence: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET...
View full details →Recall 14V743000 — SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
| 3,233 vehicles affected
Defect: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring.
Consequence: Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in January 2015. Owners may contact...
View full details →Recall 13V014000 — SEATS
| 3,235 vehicles affected
Defect: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model...
Consequence: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.
Remedy: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
View full details →Recall 13V014000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
| 3,235 vehicles affected
Defect: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model...
Consequence: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.
Remedy: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
View full details →Recall 11V113000 — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
| 1,363,244 vehicles affected
Defect: TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2011 LEXUS LX570, 2003 THROUGH 2009 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, AND 2006 THROUGH 2010 RAV4 VEHICLES. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAN GET STUCK IN THE WIDE OPEN POSITION DUE TO ITS BEING TRAPPED BY AN UNSECURED OR INCOMPATIBLE DRIVER'S FLOOR MAT.
Consequence: A STUCK OPEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN VERY HIGH VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
Remedy: THE REMEDY IS NOW AVAILABLE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN EARLY APRIL 2011. THE REMEDY WILL INVOLVE MODIFICATION OR REPLACEMENT OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND REPLACEMENT OF ANY TOYOTA ALL-WEATHER FLOOR MAT. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 OR LEXUS AT...
View full details →Recall 10V036000 — EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
| 153,418 vehicles affected
Defect: SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.
Consequence: A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.
View full details →Recall 10V035000 — EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
| 271,417 vehicles affected
Defect: GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 AND JUNE 2, 2008 WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.
Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. DEALERS WILL ALSO CORRECT THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2009 TOYOTA 4RUNNER
33 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2009 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Trainautomatic Transmission | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System Gasoline | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structurebody | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingengine | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structureframe And Members | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated while pulling out of a driveway, the contact observed a grinding noise coming from the front end of the vehicle and the steering wheel violently yanked to the right. Additionally, the contact stated that when the brake pedal was depressed, the vehicle pulled to the left inadvertently. The vehicle was stopped and inspected. The contact observed that the front passenger’s side tire was dangling by the rocker arm and the subframe. The vehicle was taken to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the front passenger’s side subframe and the rocker arms needed to be replaced due to extreme corrosion. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 114,000.
On 4/8/22, the rear window of our 2009 Toyota 4runner just shattered and fell apart for no reason. We took it to get replaced at Safelite on 4/13/22 and one of their techs asked if we knew what caused the glass to break and we told him we had no idea. We told him it just broke out of nowhere from some strange reason, and he told us that it looks like the window breaking was caused by the overheating of the rear defroster and that it was a common issue with 2009 4runners. We were in shock to find this out and are grateful that our son or dog was not in the back seat when this happened. I found out online that Toyota issued a recall for this issue (Warranty Program ZG7) and I spoke with a Toyota customer service rep to see if we could be reimbursed the $100 we paid out of pocket for this manufacturer's defect and they said the warranty program ended in 2018 so they couldn't help us. We were very disappointed to be told this because this is obviously still happening with these 4runners and it's a major safety issue as well.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THEY CRASHED INTO A COW WHICH CAUSED DAMAGED TO THE FRONT OF VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED.THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT LOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000. *LN
LESS THAN 80K MILES AND FRAME IS COMPLETELY ROTTING APART. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH I LOST CONTROL BECAUSE THE CONTROL ARM COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME! COMPLETELY UNSAFE AND DEATH TRAPS
LESS THAN 80K MILES AND FRAME IS COMPLETELY ROTTING APART. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH I LOST CONTROL BECAUSE THE CONTROL ARM COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME! COMPLETELY UNSAFE AND DEATH TRAPS
Safety Rating for the 2009 TOYOTA 4RUNNER
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2009 TOYOTA 4RUNNER in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2009 TOYOTA 4RUNNER
Toyota Motor Corporation has issued 3 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2009 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
ZG7 Dealer Packa — VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
Dealer Package: Toyota is announcing a Warranty Enhancement Program to extend the warranty coverage for Broken Rear Hatch Glass on Certain 2003-2009 Model Year 4Runner Vehicles.
T-SB-0189-17 — VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:REAR WINDOW
TSB: Some 2003 ? 2009 model year 4Runner vehicles may exhibit back door glass "broken" without external impact. This condition may be associated with rear window defogger usage before glass breakage. Updated rear glass has been developed to address this condition.
T-SB-0026-15 — EQUIPMENT
TSB: Some 2004 - 2015 model year Tacoma, FJ Cruiser, and 4Runner vehicles may exhibit a cyclical grinding or groaning noise coming from the front differential in 2WD that goes away when operated in 4WD. This noise can be addressed by replacing the needle bearing on the left side of...
NHTSA Investigations for the 2009 TOYOTA 4RUNNER
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the TOYOTA 4RUNNER
- 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER — 846 complaints
- 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER — 550 complaints
- 2006 TOYOTA 4RUNNER — 518 complaints
- 2007 TOYOTA 4RUNNER — 204 complaints
- 2008 TOYOTA 4RUNNER — 132 complaints
- 2009 TOYOTA 4RUNNER (current)
- 2010 TOYOTA 4RUNNER — 175 complaints
- 2011 TOYOTA 4RUNNER — 181 complaints
- 2012 TOYOTA 4RUNNER — 111 complaints
- 2013 TOYOTA 4RUNNER — 46 complaints
- 2014 TOYOTA 4RUNNER — 88 complaints
Other TOYOTA Models
- TOYOTA CAMRY — 23,209 total complaints
- TOYOTA PRIUS — 15,411 total complaints
- TOYOTA COROLLA — 14,342 total complaints
- TOYOTA RAV4 — 11,737 total complaints
- TOYOTA SIENNA — 10,769 total complaints
- TOYOTA TACOMA — 10,512 total complaints
- TOYOTA TUNDRA — 8,997 total complaints
- TOYOTA HIGHLANDER — 6,663 total complaints